Surname Mertl - Meaning and Origin
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Mertl: What does the surname Mertl mean?
The last name Mertl generally has Germanic origins, derived from an older form of the word 'mert', which itself comes from the Old High Germanic word 'merto', which translates to 'famous'. This is understood to refer to people who were known for their fame, renown or skill. It was likely a name used to describe a powerful individual within a community or a nobleman.
The surname Mertl is believed to have first originated in the German state of Bavaria, which itself was founded around the 8th century AD. It has since been spread to other parts of the world, particularly America, where many German immigrants settled in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
This surname is quite rare, with fewer than 5 recorded individuals in the United States, according to the Social Security Administration's Death Master File. In the opinion of many genealogists, this suggests that this name is not very common.
One of the most famous Mertl individuals is Günther Mertl, an Austrian motocross racer who achieved great success in the 1980s. As a testament to his fame, the track he used to train on was named after him: the Günther Mertl Motocross Track in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
The Mertl name is still regarded to this day as indicative of distinction and excellence, suggesting that the original owners of this surname had a very high standing in their day.
Order DNA origin analysisMertl: Where does the name Mertl come from?
The last name Mertl is most common in Austria, Slovakia, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Statistically, it is among the most common surnames in Slovakia. In Austria, Mertl is the 1,140th most common family name, while in the Czech Republic Mertl is the 883rd most common surname. In Germany, Mertl is the 2,097th most common family name, and its popularity has remained largely consistent in recent decades.
The last name Mertl is derived from the ancient Germanic words “meri” - meaning "famous" - and “hilt”- meaning "battlement" or "fort". A likely source of the name is a place called "Mertel" which was located in what is now southern Bavaria. Records of this place date back as far as the late twelfth century.
The modern-day Mertl surname may also have been derived from other family names or given names. For example, the name may be derived from the medieval name "Mertel" or from the Old High German name "Marahthel" which referred to a messenger or courier.
It is likely that the Mertl family now scattered throughout Europe are all descended from a common ancestor who lived in the late Middle Ages. Today there are still many descendants with the Mertl name living in German-speaking countries, as well as in several countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Mertl
The surname Mertl is believed to have originated from the bandit Christoph Mertl who lived and operated in Austria in the 18th century. The surname is variably spelt and has several alternate spellings and derivatives:
Mertel, Mertell, Mertehl, Mertel, Murtel, Murtell, Murtehl, Murtel, Martel, Martell, Martehl, Martel, Mortel, Mortell, Mortehl and Mortel.
The name Mertl is derived from the surname Merten, which comes from an old German name Mertin or Merten. This name is derived from the German word “Merk”, which means “to mark” or “distinguish”. Merten was an ancient German personal name bestowed on those distinguished by a mark.
Variants of Mertl include Mertle, Mertling, Mertelmann, Mertlitsch, Mertehsen, Mertens, Mertells, Martles, Mirtl, Martlus, Mertellan, Merthuel, Merthuns, Martienne, Murteisen, Murtling and Murtellan.
The names Mertell and Murtell have evolved in the English language and are spelt as Merthall, Martell, Mortell and Mortle.
The Jewish form of the Mertl name is Mertlesen, a variant of the popular Yiddish name Martlesen.
Famous people with the name Mertl
- Jan Mertl: professional Czech male tennis player
- Gustav Mertl: Austrian sculptor and painter
- Michal Mertl: Czech ice hockey defenseman
- Michal Mertl: Czech figure skater
- Franjo Mertl: Croatian politician and journalist
- Tomáš Mertl: Czechoslovak sprint canoeist
- Andrea Mertl: Austrian pair skater
- Ladislav Mertl: Slovak footballer
- Ladislav Mertl Jr.: Czech ice hockey coach
- Elena Mertl: Czech ballet dancer